Blooming LOVE

chapter 43

Immediately Ishita went to Jhanu Aunty as she was waiting for her and Rishab. As soon as Jhanu noticed her presence,she asked her  about Rishab. " Just completed his bath. He is getting ready...." She  replied to her. 

She smiled at her and said, " Thanks for giving him a chance even though you are upset with him for what he did."

She lowered her head as she didn't want to speak at this moment.

As Ishita hesitated to speak further, Jhanu Aunty's gentle voice broke the silence. "I know it's been difficult for both of you lately, but I believe in the strength of your love. Sometimes, forgiveness is the first step towards healing."Ishita nodded, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. She knew she still cared deeply for Rishab, but the hurt from his actions lingered. As they waited for Rishab to join them, Ishita's mind raced with memories of happier times and doubts about their future together.When Rishab finally appeared, his eyes met Ishita's with a mixture of remorse and hope. "Ishita, I'm truly sorry for what happened. I know I've made mistakes, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make things right."Ishita's resolve wavered as she gazed into his eyes, seeing the sincerity in his words.

Ishita's gaze shifted to Rishab's injured thumb, her concern evident in her eyes. She watched as Jhanu inspected the cut with a furrowed brow, her motherly instincts kicking in.

"Rishab, how did this happen?" Ishita asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.

Rishab glanced at Ishita, his expression sheepish. "It's nothing, just a small accident while I was cooking earlier."

Jhanu shook her head, her worry deepening. "You should have told me earlier. Let me get some antiseptic and bandages."

As Jhanu hurried to tend to Rishab's wound, Ishita reached out to gently touch his hand. "Are you okay? Does it hurt a lot?"

Rishab smiled, grateful for her concern. "It's not too bad."

Their eyes met, and in that moment, Ishita felt a rush of warmth and affection towards Rishab. Despite their past struggles, she realised that her feelings for him hadn't faded. Maybe, just maybe, there was hope for their relationship yet.

As Jhanu returned with the first aid kit, Ishita and Rishab shared a silent understanding. Though their journey was far from over, they were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, together.

And with that, they continued their dinner in silence. Once they finished their dinner, " okay... Now ....go to bed. We need to go to the temple early in the morning. " Jhanu suggested them. 

Both of them nodded their heads and walked to her bedroom. 

As soon as she entered the room, she remembered how he teased before dinner. She doesn't want to embarrass herself. 

" You can sleep on the couch..." She said, pointing her finger in a strict tone.

Rishab's expression fell at Ishita's words, his heart sinking with disappointment. He had hoped for a chance to reconcile with her, to bridge the gap that had grown between them. But now, faced with her rejection, he felt a pang of hurt and frustration.

"Okay," he replied quietly, masking his emotions behind a forced smile. "I'll sleep on the couch."

Ishita turned away, unable to meet his gaze, her own heart heavy with regret. She knew she was pushing him away, but the pain of their past still lingered, clouding her judgment and fueling her insecurities.

As Rishab settled onto the couch, Ishita couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. Maybe she was being too harsh on him, too quick to shut him out. But the fear of getting hurt again was too overwhelming, too paralysing to ignore.

After a few minutes, she pushed those feelings aside, burying them beneath layers of doubt and mistrust. Tomorrow was another day, another chance to confront the demons that haunted their relationship, to find the courage to forgive and to heal.

In the middle of the night, she heard a loud sound. She opened  her eyes and found him lying on the floor. She realised that he fell on the floor in his sleep as the couch was too small for his size.  She quickly stepped down the bed and rushed to him. She extended her hand and helped him to stand.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly, her voice laced with genuine concern.Rishab nodded, his expression a mix of embarrassment and gratitude. "I'm fine, just a little clumsy, I guess."

“ Go and sleep,” he suggested. Then he settled back onto the couch, Ishita lingered by his side, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. In that moment, she realised that no matter how hard she tried to push him away, her feelings for him remained as strong as ever.

But this time she stopped him and asked to join her in bed. He could not believe what he heard. Meanwhile, she started speaking again, " I am not so cruel. But don't take advantage of sleeping beside me..."

He couldn't believe that Ishita was willing to take this step, to allow him back into her life after everything that had transpired between them."I won't," he promised earnestly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just want to be close to you, to try and make things right again."Ishita nodded, her expression softening with understanding. "I know," she replied gently.

He knew that earning Ishita's trust again would be a daunting task, one that would require patience, honesty, and unwavering dedication. But he was willing to do whatever it took to prove himself to her, to show her that he was worthy of her love and forgiveness."I understand," he murmured, his gaze never leaving hers.

With a hesitant smile, Ishita scooted over to make room for him in the bed, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and hope. As Rishab settled in beside her, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of optimism flicker to life within her. Slowly both of them drifted to sleep.

……

The next morning, she opened her eyes with an alarm ring. She remembered that they needed to get ready to go to the temple. She was astonished to find her head on his chest and her hand around his torso.

She reminisced her words last night of not touching her. 

“ Oh my god! What if he finds me in this position!! “ She thought to herself while looking at his face.

“ I need to get away from him before he wakes up…” she decided. Slowly she took off her hand from him and tried to move away while silently observing his face. 

But all of sudden, she hissed in pain as her hair entangled to his Tee-Shirt button. Instantly he opened his eyes and noticed the face of his beautiful wife. He found her so close to him as he was oblivious of her entangled hair.

“ I liked the way of wishing  Good morning…” he said, looking at her.

“ I was not wishing you…good morning…” she argued. 

“ Then… you were trying to kiss me while I was sleeping? This is too much, Ishu… you told me, not to touch but you were trying to…” before he completed his words, she slapped on his chest.

“ My hair got entangled with your Tee shirt accidentally. Don't think high of yourself….” she yelled.

Then he observed it and felt so disappointed. “ Help me. Or else we will be late, “ She said.

“ Okay fine. But you need to listen to my words without glaring at me. “ He said.

“ okay. But make it fast…“ She agreed to him impatiently. The next moment, he placed his hands on either side of her waist and pulled over him. 

As Rishab pulled Ishita towards him, her breath caught in her throat, her heart racing with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. She felt the warmth of his body against hers, the electricity of their proximity sending shivers down her spine.